O’Farrell Government’s Attacks and Cuts

Posted by Dr Hugh McDermott Mp on February 10, 2016

Since taking office in March 2011, Barry O’Farrell and his Government have made a number of cuts to funding, jobs, workers’ rights and services. Here is an overview of what the workers of NSW have endured thus far.

Attacks on Workers’ Rights

Taken Control of IRC and Frozen Wages

- The Government passed the Industrial Relations (Public Sector Conditions of Employment) Act 2011.Consequently the Government has given itself complete power to determine wage increases (or not) and conditions for public sector staff through Regulations which do not have to pass any votes in the Parliament.

- The Industrial Relations Commission has had its power to arbitrate wage disputes removed.

- So far, the Government has frozen wage increases for public sector workers at 2.5%. Whilst the O’Farrell Government has claimed this will not leave public sector workers worse off, the University of Sydney’s Workplace Research Centre found that a nurse would be $12, 232 worse off and a teacher $14, 580 worse off each year had the O’Farrell policy been applied over the past decade.

Attacked Injured Workers

- Government amendments to the Workers Compensation Act saw significant cuts to the support and compensation provided to injured workers.

- The cuts to Workers Compensation means weekly payments will cease after 2.5 years and medical costs will stop being paid after 3.5 years for most injured workers.

- Additionally, workers will have almost non-existent coverage for accidents on their way to or from work.

- No lump sum payments can be made for pain and suffering, regardless of the severity of the injury.

- Changes to weekly benefits, medical costs and duration of payments are to apply as soon as possible to existing claims.

- The O’Farrell government attributed the needs for the cuts to a ‘deficit’ in WorkCover. The cuts have shifted the blame of the ‘deficit’ onto injured workers, with the Government hoping for a reduction in insurance premiums for employers.

Stripped Police of their Death and Disability Protection

- The Government’s Police Amendment (Death and Disability) Act 2011severely cut the support and rehabilitation provided to police who are injured on the job, as well as support for families of police officers killed at work.

Attacked Workers’ Rights to Fairly Bargain Collectively

- Currently before Parliament is the Government’s Industrial Relations Amendment (Dispute Orders) Bill 2012.If this Bill is passed, it will increase fines for taking industrial action from $10,000 a day to $110,000 a day.

- It is also important to remember as mentioned above that unions no longer have the right to independent arbitration over wages and conditions and unlike the Federal industrial relations system have no legal right to strike through protected action.

No Consultation around Significant Industrial Changes

- By way of exampleThe Technical and Further Education Commission Amendment (Staff Employment)Act 2011 saw 13,000 TAFE teachers transferred to the Federal industrial relations system where they now fall under the Fair Work Act

- No consultations with unions or teachers were attempted prior to the introduction and subsequent passing of this Act.

- Similarly, Government abolished the Transport Appeals Board with no discussion with unions.

Forcing Retail Workers to Work on Public Holidays

- The Retail Trading Amendment Bill 2012 presented by the O’Farrell Government will allow all retailers to trade on Boxing Day and Easter Sunday which will see employees being forced to work on what should be a day for families.

- The Bill will also lead to backroom staff and staff of retail businesses working on Christmas Day and Good Friday.

No Support for Equal Pay

- The most recent State budget has not allocated any funding to equal pay for social and community sector workers in line with the recent Fair Work findings.

- There are 30,000 community and public sector workers in NSW. Without NSW funding these workers will not receive the awarded increases in full which range from 19 – 41 per cent.

- Prior to the election O’Farrell promised social and community sector workers a fair and equitable pay rise.

Slashing Public Sector Entitlements

- The O’Farrell Government has applied to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission to change 98 different Public Sector Awards and enact massive cuts to entitlements and benefit.